Bristol Rovers Women are thrilled to announce that Rianne Bourne-Hallett has extended her stay at the club and is stepping up to take on the role of club captain this season.
When asked about her decision to stay, Rianne's response was unquestionable.
“It was a complete no-brainer for me. When I was offered the chance to stay, I didn’t need to think twice about it. I knew that this was where I wanted to play my football,” she stated.
“There are so many reasons why this was such an easy decision. The environment, the club's aspirations, their desire to achieve and the fact that we can continue making history together are just a few of them.”
Rianne is set to play a pivotal role in the team's development, particularly with several new players joining the squad.
“With a lot of change in and amongst the squad this season, I feel like it's my role to make the new players coming in feel welcome and do all I can to help us all come together as a team ready to compete in tier 4,” she explained.
Rianne’s personal goals reflect her relentless pursuit of excellence. “Personally, I want to keep improving as a player and as a teammate. Fine-tuning the little details is really important to me; the game is always changing, so I need to make sure I’m doing all I can to be at the top of my game.”
On a team level, her sights are set on making a significant impact in the National League. “The club is giving us the best platform possible to showcase our abilities, so hopefully we can hit the ground running.”
Rianne also reflected on one her most proudest moments in the Blue and White Quarters and how she loved to see the impact: “The game at the Memorial Stadium against Liskeard was certainly one for the memory books. The whole occasion was so special. The place was buzzing hours before kick-off, the stands continued to fill, and the place was rocking throughout.”
“Seeing how much of an impact we, as players, have on the younger generation was really prevalent that day so to have gone on to score two of my best goals, win the game and lift the trophy with my boys by my side showed anyone that these things are possible.”
As captain, Rianne aims to mentor and support younger and newer players, ensuring they reach their full potential. “For me, it’s also about helping and guiding the younger/newer players around me and filling them with the belief to achieve. There is so much talent within the club, and I just love seeing the girls flourish.”
Manager Nathan Hallett Young also expressed his admiration for Rianne's contributions and leadership.
“Rianne was definitely our standout signing of last season - she was exceptional across the board. Her performances and contributions were crucial, scoring important goals at key moments and bringing a sense of calm to the team.”
He highlighted our away fixture against Forest Green in the League Cup where Rianne's leadership was on full display, stating, “The leadership shown by Rianne in that game was a clear indicator for us that we knew who we’d like to put our faith into next season.”
As Rianne takes on the captaincy, expectations are high. Nathan concluded, “We’re really excited to see Rianne with the captaincy this season, and she’s more than capable of taking this team to new heights.”
We are overjoyed to see Rianne extend her time at the club and look forward to seeing her impact on the pitch this season.
